Help - I rack up such a high balance on my credit card every month

[Anonymous]

You have so much growing up to do. Not sure why you're buying home decor if you live with your parents. Save that money for an apartment, unless that's not a goal. All you need is the basics in your room. $100 phone plan ? Really? And how much did you pay for your last phone? How about looking at the pay as you go option at Verizon or is that beneath you? The issue is that your trying to live as an established adult that has earned a higher income. What is your average monthly pay?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have so much growing up to do. Not sure why you're buying home decor if you live with your parents. Save that money for an apartment, unless that's not a goal. All you need is the basics in your room. $100 phone plan ? Really? And how much did you pay for your last phone? How about looking at the pay as you go option at Verizon or is that beneath you? The issue is that your trying to live as an established adult that has earned a higher income. What is your average monthly pay?

Uhh obviously. I'm in my early twenties. I'm pretty responsible for a 25 year old thanks! I can buy a picture frame or two if I like, thanks very much Not buyin couches and coffee tables. I like my phone plan thanks! Not changing my mind on that! Don't worry about my average monthly pay Not the point of this thread. The point is to help stop my credit card usage habits.

[Anonymous]

I have a few suggestions:

1. go to therapy to figure out why you're doing this
2. call the bank and have them lower your limit to $300
3. cut up your card
4. get out and do more things instead of shopping because you are bored or feel empty inside
5. read about living a minimal lifestyle

[Anonymous]

OP, you do sound a bit immature, but good thing you are living at home while you're trying to get this under control. My guess is that you are a bit materialistic. Try to find people to connect with and activities to do. See if the DIY culture speaks to you. Play some sports, join a book club. Do things, don't buy things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you do sound a bit immature, but good thing you are living at home while you're trying to get this under control. My guess is that you are a bit materialistic. Try to find people to connect with and activities to do. See if the DIY culture speaks to you. Play some sports, join a book club. Do things, don't buy things.

to add to this, I always had trouble with money when I was feeling bored or lonely. I would go shopping to pass the time, thinking that if I had this outfit or my room was "just so" I would feel better. It wasn't until I got a great group of friends who didn't care about fashion or cars or consuming the most trendy cocktails, that I stopped wasting my hard earned money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have so much growing up to do. Not sure why you're buying home decor if you live with your parents. Save that money for an apartment, unless that's not a goal. All you need is the basics in your room. $100 phone plan ? Really? And how much did you pay for your last phone? How about looking at the pay as you go option at Verizon or is that beneath you? The issue is that your trying to live as an established adult that has earned a higher income. What is your average monthly pay?

Uhh obviously. I'm in my early twenties. I'm pretty responsible for a 25 year old thanks! I can buy a picture frame or two if I like, thanks very much Not buyin couches and coffee tables. I like my phone plan thanks! Not changing my mind on that! Don't worry about my average monthly pay Not the point of this thread. The point is to help stop my credit card usage habits.

What a joke. You are a special needy snowflake. How fun living at home like the big girl you are! Thanks for the good time

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Thank you!! Yes I'm definitely a shopper and want to prevent myself from getting into serious debt. I know I like splurging and buying what I like. Probably a good idea to use only cash in target.. I think I will actually try that

The easy thing to do is to take the credit card out of your wallet and leave it home. Don't take it with you when you go someplace that makes you overspend like Target. Only take it out for approved shopping trips, like to the gas station or grocery store. For a Target trip, budget how much you are willing to spend, say you know you need to go for say $12 worth of personal items. So you give yourself a budget to overrun, like $25 or $35 total. Get $25 cash for your wallet, put the credit card away and then head to Target. Pick out your personal items, and then you know that you have $13-$23 to spend on whimsical shopping. You can get whatever you want with that extra money. You won't have the CC or extra cash to buy more than you've budgeted. You can take the CC to the supermarket or to the gas station to use.

Once you develop better willpower in a place like Target you can start taking your card with you all the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Thank you!! Yes I'm definitely a shopper and want to prevent myself from getting into serious debt. I know I like splurging and buying what I like. Probably a good idea to use only cash in target.. I think I will actually try that

The easy thing to do is to take the credit card out of your wallet and leave it home. Don't take it with you when you go someplace that makes you overspend like Target. Only take it out for approved shopping trips, like to the gas station or grocery store. For a Target trip, budget how much you are willing to spend, say you know you need to go for say $12 worth of personal items. So you give yourself a budget to overrun, like $25 or $35 total. Get $25 cash for your wallet, put the credit card away and then head to Target. Pick out your personal items, and then you know that you have $13-$23 to spend on whimsical shopping. You can get whatever you want with that extra money. You won't have the CC or extra cash to buy more than you've budgeted. You can take the CC to the supermarket or to the gas station to use.

Once you develop better willpower in a place like Target you can start taking your card with you all the time.

Don't bother. She'll just respond with reasons why she can't possibly do that. 25 going on 18

[Anonymous]

Use cash. If I use credit or debit, I overspend. Simple.